“What, what did you say? 10 minutes? No, we can’t endure even 5 minutes!”

Even if we respond as quickly as possible, it’s impossible to be faster due to the distance, so please wait.

“Oh, darn it! If you don’t want to clean up the corpse, hurry! Please, come quickly!”

After finishing the call with the firefighter, Dosun looked at Soyeon with a worried expression.

“Cough…”

As Soyeon’s coughing gradually increased, her strength drained from her body.

“You have asthma… What if we really die like this?”

“We have to endure… Cough!”

With a barely audible answer, Soyeon touched her phone with trembling fingers and called Seojun.

“Seojun, we’re trapped.”

Trapped? What are you suddenly saying!

“It seems like there’s a fire in this building. The waiting room door is locked, so we can’t go out, and the room without windows is filled with thick smoke, making it hard to breathe… Cough, cough…”

As Soyeon continued to cough, Seojun pressed the accelerator pedal deeper, increasing the speed of the car.

Eom Soyeon! I’m heading your way right now! I’ll be there soon, so hang on a little!

His response was quite startled and enraged.

“Actually… I’m scared that this might be the end… Cough…”

Soyeon was scared.

Scared that she might not see him anymore. She tried to live well like Hyunwoo, but now her earnest wish seemed to be in vain.

“To be honest… If I’m wrong, our Hyunwoo… Will Seojun be okay…?”

Shut up! I’m on my way! So, wrap yourself with clothes to cover your nose and lie flat on the floor! Endure just a bit longer! Got it?

“…”

As Seojun forcefully spoke, Soyeon nodded silently with trembling hands. Hearing Seojun’s reliable voice made her throat ache. In the meantime, Soyeon lowered her body and covered Dosun’s mouth with her clothes.

Eom Soyeon! Are you okay? Soyeon! Answer me! Please make some sound even if it’s short!

During Soyeon’s explanation, Seojun’s voice became rough.

“…I did as you told me. So when are you coming?”

Ha, well done! Just hold on a bit longer. Now, don’t talk anymore!

“Yeah…”

Soyeon decided to trust Seojun.

No, she firmly believed in him.

With her stubborn heart, she waited for him and waited again.

Dosun, who looked at Soyeon lying flat on the floor, asked her.

“Are you okay?”

“What if I’m not okay?”

“Right, let’s endure. We can do it.”

“Mr. Isadore said he would come soon. I believe him!”

“Do you know that? Dosun, you’re really a positive and good friend.”

“If it’s a prediction, I won’t listen. But just know that I am.”

Now, the throat was so dry and the urge to vomit became unbearable.

“Let’s hold our breaths. No talking.”

“…”

Dosun understood the gesture of agreement and tightly embraced Soyeon.
Even if they crossed the threshold of death, the two embraced each other as if saying, “Let’s live together, let’s die together.” Being together was never so reassuring. If that was consolation, it was indeed comforting. No, it became a tremendous source of strength.

Not long after, the eyes of Soyeon and Dosun, who faced each other, were moistened with tears. Even their eyes gradually closed, and now, relying solely on willpower, it became a challenging situation to endure. Nevertheless, Soyeon and Dosun never gave up hope that they could survive.

It wasn’t about expecting a miracle. It was about believing Taeseojun’s words that he would come soon.

At the same moment.

“Eom Soyeon!”

Shouting, a man with a sturdy body jumped up the stairs with long strides, and water dripped off his body.

Without hesitation, the man who stepped boldly into the second floor engulfed in hot flames was none other than Taeseojun.

That’s right.

As soon as he arrived at the scene, Seojun sprinkled water all over his body and rushed into the pit of fire without hesitation.

“Eom Soyeon! Soyeon, where are you!”

Along with Seojun’s shout, the sound of banging on the iron door from the first room in the corridor and the loud voice protesting with determination echoed.

Bang! Bang, bang…!

“Here! Help! Please save us!”

Desperate voices cried out, and it was clear who was shouting. However, it was not Soyeon.

Seojun, who quickly unlocked the lock of that door with nimble movements, did not hesitate and headed inside the corridor.

Manager Huda, who rushed out of the room along with Minjeong, turned around before going down the stairs and shouted to the back of Seojun.

“Thank you for saving us! If you’re looking for Eom Soyeon, it’s the second-to-last room at the very end!”

A word of gratitude like repayment to Taeseojun, who averted the crisis. Though it might not be a reward, at least with the minimum conscience, Om Minjeong, who revealed Soyeon’s location, hurriedly ran down the stairs, feeling relieved.

The footsteps that were advancing with large strides stopped in front of the door Minjeong mentioned. Unlike other doors, the one Seojun was staring at had a lock, just like the first room where Om Minjeong came out.